Thomas Mitchell Poland (born February 4, 1949)[1] is an American writer. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Lincolnton, Georgia. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and a master's degree in education from the University of Georgia.[2] A frequent contributor to magazines, he has written approximately 1,200 features.[3]
Tom Poland | |
|---|---|
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| Born | February 4, 1949 Augusta, Georgia |
| Occupation | Author, Public Speaker |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Georgia |
| Website | |
| www | |
His novel, Forbidden Island ... An Island Called Sapelo (ISBN 1425992021), deals with themes of hope and destruction: man's alteration of the Earth and man's efforts to stave off the inevitable loss of family.
He was the 2011–2012 playwright for Swamp Gravy,[4] Georgia's official folk life drama.[5] His play, Solid Ground, presents the hardships, joys, and beauty of the farming life in south Georgia.[6] Save The Last Dance For Me,[7] a book on how the blues led to beach music and the shag phenomenon along the Carolina beaches, was published by the University of South Carolina Press in the summer of 2012. He contributed to State of the Heart,[8] an anthology of writers who contributed essays about their favorite places in South Carolina, foreword by Pat Conroy, edited by Aida Rogers and published by the University of South Carolina Press.
Reflections of South Carolina, Vol. II was published by the University of South Carolina Press in 2014, with foreword by Mary Alice Monroe.[9] The History Press of Charleston published Classic Carolina Road Trips in 2014, and South Carolina Country Roads[10] in April 2018. Georgialina, A Southland As We Knew It[11] was published in November 2015 by the University of South Carolina Press. Arcadia Publishing published “The Last Sunday Drive”[12] in November 2019. Carolina Bays: Wild, Mysterious, and Majestic Landforms was published by the University of South Carolina Press in 2020 [13]
He lives in Columbia, South Carolina where he shared his writing approach for 19 years as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina's College of Mass Information and Library Studies. As a member of the South Carolina Humanities Speakers Bureau, he is often invited to give presentations on the state’s culture and history.[14] In 2018, Governor Henry McMaster awarded Poland the Order of the Palmetto for his significant contributions in heralding the unique heritage of South Carolina.[15]
References
edit- ^ Jacquelyn Johnson (April 26, 2007). "Lincoln Co. author Tom Poland to speak at Friends of Library event this Sunday". The News-Reporter. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
- ^ "UGA grad Tom Poland honored by state of South Carolina". Athens Banner-Herald. November 12, 2018. Retrieved 2018-11-12.
- ^ "Author Tom Poland Receives Order of the Palmetto". Greenwood Index-Journal. November 6, 2018. Retrieved 2018-11-06.
- ^ Marena Galluccio (August 28, 2017). "State's Official Folklife Play Returns with Fresh Stories in October". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
- ^ Will Murdock (March 7, 2012). "Swamp Gravy Searches Out Solid Ground". Miller County Liberal. Retrieved 2012-03-07.
- ^ Kate Willis (February 27, 2013). "Swamp Gravy Starts Friday with Live and Learn". Miller County Liberal. Retrieved 2013-02-27.
- ^ Don Rhodes (July 2, 2013). "Ramblin' Rhodes: Shag has strong footing in Augusta". Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
- ^ "S.C. writers provide their 'State of the Heart' book review 2013". Aiken Standard. September 28, 2013. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
- ^ Stephanie Turner (April 1, 2016). "Reflections of South Carolina: Book captures Palmetto state through photographs, text". Aiken Standard. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
- ^ Warren Hughes (January 5, 2018). "Tom Poland and South Carolina's Back Roads". Columbia Star. Retrieved 2018-01-05.
- ^ Wayne Ford (February 24, 2016). "Georgialina: "A Southland As We Knew It" book review". Athens Banner Herald. Retrieved 2016-08-21.
- ^ Anita Baker (February 27, 2020). "Tom Poland Captures Sights and Stories of the Rural South". Columbia Star. Retrieved 2020-02-27.
- ^ Guest Columnist (January 24, 2020). "Why Carolina bays are an enduring mystery". MNN. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- ^ Kathryn Kao (November 29, 2018). "Alumnus honored with South Carolina's highest civilian honor". College of Education-University of Georgia. Retrieved 2018-11-29.
- ^ Adam Parker (November 8, 2018). "Tom Poland receives Order of the Palmetto". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2018-11-08.
External links
edit- Tom Poland's Website
- WIS-TV, "Talk of the Town: A Place Called Obscurity" June 14, 2018
- South Carolina Public Radio, "USC Press Showcases a Variety of Authors, Subjects" December 25, 2017
- Thomasville Times Enterprise, "Swamp Gravy Serving up 25 Years of Entertainment" October 3, 2017
- South Carolina Public Radio, "USC Press Showcases a Variety of Authors, Subjects" February 21, 2017
- Albany Herald, "Swamp Gravy Coming to Albany" May 1, 2016
- Free Times, "Finding New Stories in Familiar Places" January 6, 2016
- The Augusta Chronicle, "By the Book: New book recalls Southern days gone by" December 26, 2015
- Free Times, "Columbia, Then and Now" September 23, 2015
- Kirkus Reviews, "A Southland as We Knew It" September 3, 2015
- Rotary Club of Lake Murray-Irmo, "The Rotary Club of Lake Murray hosted author Tom Poland" July 29, 2015
- WIS-10, "Midlands author shares South Carolina hidden gems in travel book" 2014
- Columbia Metropolitan, "Art for the Coffee Table: Reflections of South Carolina" 2014
- Aiken Standard, "‘Reflections of South Carolina:’ Book captures Palmetto state through photographs, text" November 8, 2014
- Hub City Writers Project, "New Books by Tom Poland" September 18, 2014
- Free Times, "Writer, Photographer Reflect on SC" June 11, 2014
- Aiken Standard, "S.C. writers provide their 'State of the Heart'" September 28, 2013
- New Georgia Encyclopedia, "Swamp Gravy" August 6, 2013
- The Augusta Chronicle, "Ramblin’ Rhodes: Shag has strong footing in Augusta" July 2, 2013
- Aiken Standard, "Book festival to feature local authors, book appraisal" May 16, 2013
- Miller County Liberal, "Swamp Gravy Starts Friday with 'Live and Learn'" February 27, 2013
- Aiken Standard, "‘Save the Last Dance for Me’ traces evolution of beach music, shag dance" September 8, 2012
- Miller County Liberal, "Swamp Gravy Searches Out Solid Ground" March 7, 2012
- What Jasper Said: The Word on Columbia Arts, "Tom Poland reflects on his play, Solid Ground" October 23, 2011